Etichetă: herbs

Hello friends! This will be the last article of this year and because it is the last one before Christmas holidays, I wanted to make it special, interesting and magical to fit with beautiful winter season. I will write you about the history of sage, the beneficial properties of this plant and some of its secrets and magical powers.

Salvia officinalis or Sage, it is a herb used by people all over the world for different purposes. Actually, a perennial, evergreen shrub, with woody stems, grayish leaves, and blue to purplish flowers. It is native to the Mediterranean region, but it has naturalized in many places throughout the world. Since ancient times, this plant was used to treat different disease, as spice for food or tea and it was used in magical cleansing rituals as well. It was consumed only for its minty taste and fresh perfume or it really has beneficial properties for body and soul? We are just about to find out.

The scientific name of this plant tell as almost everything about it. `Salvia` came from the Latin word `salvare` which mean salvation or healing and `officinalis` refers to the plant’s medicinal use, the `officina` was the traditional storeroom of a monastery where herbs and medicines were stored. The sage was first used more than 5000 years ago and since then people take advantage over its beneficial because they are real. Ancient Egyptians mostly used it as a remedy for infertility, but could also be used in the treatment of serious diseases and epidemics like the plague. The Romans referred to sage as the `holy herb` because they said it was good for everything. Also, this plant is known as a plant that gives eternal life. According to the legend, the Virgin Mary hid with the small baby Jesus in the sage bush during the fight to Egypt from Herod. Even today sage is one of the plants that is dedicated to Our Lady when celebrating the Day of Assumption. It is also believed that this plant can protect us against magic, fire and hail, as well in easing the birth and conception.

Sage is one of the oldest and most important medicinal plants, all ancient medical writers mentioned it in their writings. Beside the legends, myths, magical rituals and old stories, this herb has some special properties for sure, and they are been proved by scientists. This medicinal plant has an incredibly broad spectrum of activity that is very nice described in this old axiom originated in Salerno that says: “Cur moriatur homo, cui salvia crescit in horto?” = “Why should a man die, whilst Sage grows in his garden?”. So, the most important properties of sage are: powerful anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial and anti fungal activity, powerful antioxidant and probably the best cleanser and stimulant of the lymph, boosts circulation and acts as an expectorant, great hormonal regulator (especially in women–because of its estrogen-like activity), lipolytic, astringent and antispasmodic action, has good analgesic effects and so much more. Also, The latest research has shown that sage reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and improves memory.

The most interesting thing about this plant is that was known not only as a medicinal herb, but as a sacred plant as well. In many cultures this plant was used for cleansing rituals. The native Americans, Celtic people, Romans, Egyptians and many more used this plant in the practice of the sacred ritual of Salvia apianaor white sage. This ancient solemn ceremony comprises the ignition of a bunch of dried leaves of sage, to improve the overall well-being by clearing the environment from any negative energy, purify or bless people, calm stress, fight anxiety, sadness, and clean crystals. Probably this ritual is the most known magical ceremony, maybe because it actually works and it has a scientific explication. Because sage has antimicrobial properties, its smoke helps the air purifying from some microorganisms that might be in the atmosphere. Of course, as a biologist, I can say that for this process to work it is needed a lot of sage and smoke, and we don’t want that in the house, but if you burn sometimes few leaves of sage, the minty perfume will make your room feel fresh and clean.

I can’t tell that all of the information about sage, found on internet and different articles is true, but I can tell you that I tried the sage tea and I felt very good after. The taste is very fresh and it helps the digestive system to work well, also this tea is good for the hair. Clean your hair with sage tea and soon will look really shiny and healthy. Sage is a really special herb and it must be something magical about it because too many physicians and biologists wrote about it through the centuries. What I forgot to tell you is that the symbols of this herb is wisdom and immortality, I think the conclusion is obvious.

I wish you all a beautiful winter and magical holidays!

Hello, friends!

My name is Adela and I'm an enthusiast biologist, passionate about photography, travel and art. I find all my inspiration in nature.